Never before the present attempt the technique of Gandharan and Indo-Afghan stucco modeling is described comprehensively, though different archaeologists have touched this or that aspect of it only in a piecemeal manner in excavation reports of various sites. The entire technique is treated in this work, in the same order, in which a modeler creates images. Above all, the subject is viewed in its own context, i.e against the Indian background. This also has not happened till now that is why the foreign influence noticed in this or that aspect was liberally extended to all aspects and the whole creation was traced to an alien culture without justification. The present analytical approach to the technique reveals, plainly enough that the Gandharan and indo-Afghan artists proceeded in their work having been guided by the indigenous unbaked clay modeling, which they were traditionally practising for generations. Hence their technique of stucco modeling, too, is largely indigenous, though the impetus to use stucco as a medium of image making probably came from the Graeco-Roman traditions. The stucco as a material is however known in India two and a half thousand years earlier then the beginning of the Gandharan School of art as such.

CONTENTS

Preface

xi

Preface continued

xi

Acknowledgements

xiii

Errata

xiv

Generalities

1-5

Introduction

6-12

Chapter-1

Story of Stucco in India before the Gandharan and the Indo-Afghan Schools of Art

13-30

Chapter-2

General aspects of the Gandharan and the Indo-Afghan schools with special reference to Stuccos

31-57

Chapter-3

Nature of Cores in Stucco Images

58-62

Chapter-4

Varieties of Core of the Bodies

63-75

Chapter-5

Safety and Bottom Sticks of Cores

76-81

Chapter-6

Cores of the Heads

82-83

Chapter-7

Further Work on Core with Clay

84-86

Chapter-8

Preparation of Stucco

87-90

Chapter-9

Casting with Moulds

91-98

Chapter-10

Method of Application of Stucco

99-101

Chapter-11

Polish of image surfaces

102-106

Chapter-12

Execution of the Drapery

107-110

Chapter-13

Method of Fashioning Hair Dress, Ornaments etc

111-112

Chapter-14

The Mode of Colouring Stuccos

113-126

Chapter-15

Native and Influences in the Techniques of The Gandharan and indo-Afghan Stucco Images

Never before the present attempt the technique of Gandharan and Indo-Afghan stucco modeling is described comprehensively, though different archaeologists have touched this or that aspect of it only in a piecemeal manner in excavation reports of various sites. The entire technique is treated in this work, in the same order, in which a modeler creates images. Above all, the subject is viewed in its own context, i.e against the Indian background. This also has not happened till now that is why the foreign influence noticed in this or that aspect was liberally extended to all aspects and the whole creation was traced to an alien culture without justification. The present analytical approach to the technique reveals, plainly enough that the Gandharan and indo-Afghan artists proceeded in their work having been guided by the indigenous unbaked clay modeling, which they were traditionally practising for generations. Hence their technique of stucco modeling, too, is largely indigenous, though the impetus to use stucco as a medium of image making probably came from the Graeco-Roman traditions. The stucco as a material is however known in India two and a half thousand years earlier then the beginning of the Gandharan School of art as such.

CONTENTS

Preface

xi

Preface continued

xi

Acknowledgements

xiii

Errata

xiv

Generalities

1-5

Introduction

6-12

Chapter-1

Story of Stucco in India before the Gandharan and the Indo-Afghan Schools of Art

13-30

Chapter-2

General aspects of the Gandharan and the Indo-Afghan schools with special reference to Stuccos

31-57

Chapter-3

Nature of Cores in Stucco Images

58-62

Chapter-4

Varieties of Core of the Bodies

63-75

Chapter-5

Safety and Bottom Sticks of Cores

76-81

Chapter-6

Cores of the Heads

82-83

Chapter-7

Further Work on Core with Clay

84-86

Chapter-8

Preparation of Stucco

87-90

Chapter-9

Casting with Moulds

91-98

Chapter-10

Method of Application of Stucco

99-101

Chapter-11

Polish of image surfaces

102-106

Chapter-12

Execution of the Drapery

107-110

Chapter-13

Method of Fashioning Hair Dress, Ornaments etc

111-112

Chapter-14

The Mode of Colouring Stuccos

113-126

Chapter-15

Native and Influences in the Techniques of The Gandharan and indo-Afghan Stucco Images

I received the statue today, and it is beautiful! Worth the wait! Thank you so much, blessings, Kimberly.

Kimberly, USA

I received the Green Tara Thangka described below right on schedule. Thank you a million times for that. My teacher loved it and was extremely moved by it. Although I have seen a lot of Green Tara thangkas, and have looked at other Green Tara Thangkas you offer and found them all to be wonderful, the one I purchased is by far the most beautiful I have ever seen -- or at least it is the one that most speaks to me.

John, USA

Your website store is a really great place to find the most wonderful books and artifacts from beautiful India. I have been traveling to India over the last 4 years and spend 3 months there each time staying with two Bengali families that I have adopted and they have taken me in with love and generosity. I love India. Thanks for doing the business that you do. I am an artist and, well, I got through I think the first 6 pages of the book store on your site and ordered almost 500 dollars in books... I'm in trouble so I don't go there too often.. haha.. Hari Om and Hare Krishna and Jai.. Thanks a lot for doing what you do.. Great !

Steven, USA

Great Website! fast, easy and interesting!

Elaine, Australia

I have purchased from you before. Excellent service. Fast shipping. Great communication.

Pauline, Australia

Have greatly enjoyed the items on your site; very good selection! Thank you!

Kulwant, USA

I received my order yesterday. Thank you very much for the fast service and quality item. I’ll be ordering from you again very soon.

Brian, USA

ALMIGHTY GOD I BLESS EXOTIC INDIA AND ALL WHO WORK THERE!!!!!

Lord Grace, Switzerland

I have enjoyed the many sanskrit boks I purchased from you, especially the books by the honorable Prof. Pushpa Dixit.